Because it’s a science show, the approach on “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) toward drones is more of the gee-whiz, ain’t technology cool point of view.
While it’s interesting to hear the history of the pilotless planes, which are pretty much remote control on an ungodly scale, there is also scarcely anything in the episode titled “Rise of the Drones” that touches on the morality of flying spy and death machines all over the world unbridled.
The only words of protest toward the rather cowardly approach, comes from a lone woman protesting at a Congressional hearing (who I’m certain is also the woman who protested the first post-Newtown NRA press conference. This leads to further questions: Is there only one woman in America with a conscience? And is she always in jail?).
No, the chief ethical questions for “Nova” is whether drones can someday develop a mind of their own and turn on humans, which is what happens if you keep the science (and sci-fi) blinders on too long. But the episode is at least good to alert people on just how much drone activity the U.S. conducts, how they train with X-box controls, if not the effects of what we’re doing in terms of total deaths and bad public relations.
I asked the makers of “Nova” why they took this approach, avoiding the morality of operating a fleet of drones rather than the technology, was it because it’s just a science a show?
“I think it’s correct to say this is not a public affairs show and that I think that the issues would be handled in a different way on a public affairs show,” says “Nova” secnior executive producer Paula S. Apsell. “In a time honored tradition on ‘Nova’ of presenting military technology, it’s my belief that people really have to understand the technology, its capabilities, and where it could take us in the future before they can really evaluate in a reasonable way what the ethics are of the situation.
“You’re correct in saying that there’s certainly more on the technology and how it’s used than there is on the ethics,” Apsell says. “On the other hand, I disagree a little bit with you on the characterization. While I think it’s certainly not a long or major part of the film, I think that there is plenty of discussion about it. I think it’s impactful, and I think it certainly puts it in the mind of the viewer that this raises major ethical issues.”
“We obviously wrestled with this, and we did make the ultimate decision to put technology first and foremost in the center,” says Peter Yost, writer producer and director of the “Rise of the Drones” episode. “To understand the technology is key, and to get a glimpse of this, and then make your own decisions.
“There have been thousands, if not tens of thousands of media articles about the ethics of this. It’s out there. People are debating it, and I actually think that’s wonderful and important, and unresolved, frankly, and it will continue to be chewed over,” Yost says.
“What is strikingly absent cross those thousands, if not 10,000s of articles, to my mind, is any real understanding or analysis or presentation of what these things really are.”
The film hopes to do that, he says.
So I do think it’s an important part of the show.